India | FindPenguins

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Trip start
October 27, 2025
India
Tues Oct 28: Heart of India
October 28, 2025 in India ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
Left New York Monday at 12:30 pm and arrived in New Delhi Tuesday at 9pm. This is our third OAT trip, let’s see if we get some perks. We met Deependra at the hotel. He gave us our first itinerary and we went to bed.Read more
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India
Wed Oct 29: Community Kitchen
October 29, 2025 in India ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C
Visited a Sikh temple, heads had to be covered and we were barefoot. Went into the Sanctum Sanctorum to observe worshiping and see the holy book. Then toured the community kitchen that feeds over 20,000 people a day. We sat and were fed lunch.
In the afternoon we went for a walk LODI gardens.Read more
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India
Thurs Oct 30: Gandhi and the old city
October 30, 2025 in India ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
Today we went to Humayun’s Tomb. Then continued to the Raj Ghat neighborhood exploring the history of Mahatma Gandhi. Spent time walking through Old Delhi, sensory overload. Enjoyed lunch in a back alley, we had Paratha filled with potato, cauliflower or mixed Veggies. We also had a rickshaw ride back through the old city.Read more
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India
Fri Oct 31: flight to Jaipur- bus Pushka
October 31, 2025 in India ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
We were staying in a glamping tent. Headed to the fair, bus got stuck in the sand and we had to be pulled out. Spent our time in the horse section.
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India
Sat Nov 1: 2nd day of the festival
November 1, 2025 in India ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
Started with 6 am yoga, then headed back to the fair. Today was all about the camels. Saw a snake charmer and went to the arena where they made the horses dance on their back legs.
Walked through town, saw a processional with a body. Went with a guru and had a ceremony by the water. Saw a temple on our way back through town, too busy to stop.
Went back after a rest, had a camel ride, I went on the camel cart, Dan rode the camel. Deep tried to give us free time, we refused, too many people constantly approaching trying to sell you things. Next was a visit to the sand art exhibit, tried to take a group photo, I was throwing up over on the side. No dinner for me that night.Read more
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India
Sun Nov 2: Amber fort
November 2, 2025 in India ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
Traveled back to Jaipur. I was still a little off. Dan went to Alber Hall museum by tuk tuk. We saw elephants with riders going down the street. At night we visited Amber Fort .
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India
Mon Nov 3: school & village visit
November 3, 2025 in India ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
Entered town had chai tea, Dan had a scalp massage. Continued to the school. Had a presentation by the principal, then went to a 6-8 grade class. I taught a little geometry.
Went to the village for a sit down talk. They were very confused by all the single women. I then volunteered and the women swept me away to help make chapati. Had a group
Lunch and then took a small tour of the village.Read more
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India
Tues Nov 4: host family dinner
November 4, 2025 in India ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
Started at the Patrika Gate, lots of couples getting pictures done. Next went to the paper factory. We went to the old town with free time for shopping. Dan and I bought shirts and a scarf. Had lunch at the museum restaurant. We went back to the hotel, I got to swim.
The family was extremely gracious, The husband is an artist and the mother was a homemaker. The son was 11, he liked math and robots. Her aunt and father also lived in the house. I got to help in the kitchen make tea and fritters. Great evening.Read more
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India
Wed Nov 5: Ranthambhore National Park
November 5, 2025 in India ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
The hotel looked like a palace. We went to DHONK craft co op. This was created to employ villagers and curb the practice of pouching. Watched a documentary on the succession of a tiger. Current tiger population is ~4,000.Read more
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India
Thur Nov 6: tiger safari
November 6, 2025 in India ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
We joined a safari in the morning, all Indians and Dan, Steve and I. In the afternoon we had a safari for just the OAT group. Animals seen: monkeys, peacocks, crocodiles, wild boar, mongoose, spotted deer, somber deer, and several bird species.Read more
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India
Fri Nov 7: bollywood show
November 7, 2025 in India ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
Took a train ride from Ranthambhore to Bharatpur , then bus to Agra. We could see the Taj Mahal in the distance from our room. Went to a live show about the story of the creation of the Taj Mahal at night.Read more
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India
Sat Nov 8 : Taj Mahal and Agra Fort
November 8, 2025 in India ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Got to spend an amazing time touring the Taj. We had a local take some photos, he then printed and delivered them in the afternoon. Deependra told us the love story of Shah Jahan and his wife.
Next stop was the Red Fort of Agra built by the Mughals in Agra.
We ended our day at the cafe run by women survivors of acid attacks.Read more
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India
Sun Nov 9: Kathak Dance
November 9, 2025 in India ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
We had a long bus ride from Agra to Lucknow. We are staying at the Taj Mahal hotel, extremely fancy. I got in a quick swim they we went for a presentation of Kathak dance.
Dinner at a local restaurant that included: tomato salsa, wheat balls, wheat balls with cheese, baba ganoush, and lentils.they were cooking the eggplant on an open flame when we arrived.Read more
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India
Mon Nov 10: cooking lesson
November 10, 2025 in India ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
We visited a renowned boarding school, LMUN, a school created by Martiniere, a frenchman. Then we went to Bara Imambara, currently used by Shia muslims. We then drove to a local home for a discussion of spices and a demonstration on making the kebab. Then had lunch at the home: chapati, kebabs, yogurt with cucumber and onion, rice dish, potato and stewed vegetables.
Tonight we had time to shop and had dinner and dessert at the royal cafe. Dan and I stopped at BK for two chicken sandwiches for 99 rupees.Read more
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India
Tues Nov 11: spiritual capital of India
November 11, 2025 in India ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Had a long bus ride to Varanasi. Had lunch at the hotel then free time. We took a walk around then used the pool and hot tub. Late afternoon we headed to the Ganges river to Kashi a five mile stretch, considered the most holy location in Hinduism. We witnessed the cremation area, watching them prepare and burn the bodies. Then we headed down river to the Thanksgiving celebration. Every night they celebrate the day with this ceremony.Read more
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India
Wed Nov 12: Buddhist center of learning
November 12, 2025 in India ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
We returned to a boat ride on the Ganges in the very early morning, after walking down Main Street. We saw the bathing ghats. Came back for breakfast and then headed out again to visit Sarnath museum and ruins, location was the birth of buddhism. In the afternoon we went to a Mehta Silk factory, beautiful pieces and artistry.Read more
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Trip end
November 15, 2025